If nothing is passed to lower government spending and increase the debt ceiling, America will still be America. The only difference will be that the ridiculous debt ceiling that “always” gets raised finally will hold firm and politicians won’t have to wait for a balanced budget amendment. Unless they find a miraculous agreement or claim new federal receipts allow an extension, they’ll be faced with a balanced budget on August 3rd. It’s said that nothing inspires genius like a tight budget! We’ll find out when the blank check is taken away from the free-spending politicians now encamped in Washington.

This President has warned that America may default on our debt and that seniors may not receive their Social Security checks. That will be the President’s choice. There is federal monthly revenue to pay 60% of our obligations. The President is doing his best to create panic while Republicans have been busy passing viable solutions. America is tiring of his incessant blame game and “campaign” speeches filled with empty promises no one trusts. As the CBO has made clear, they “don’t score speeches!”

The biggest difference between a vision and a hallucination are the number of people who can see it. Even many who voted for President Obama are restless; the hope and change he promised is turning into a nightmare. In case those closest to him aren’t telling him the truth—“The emperor has no clothes!” He isn’t leading, and his words and promises are no longer working!

But fear not! Like the infamous “Carmageddon” in Southern California, there’ll be no financial “Debtmageddon!” America will not fall apart. Why? The real problem is not the debt ceiling; it’s the exploding debt. President Obama and Democrats are wringing their hands and trying to scare Americans because their spending will have to be curtailed immediately if the debt ceiling is not raised.

Other countries and debt rating agencies are watching to see if we can face the real problem—unchecked deficits and unfunded entitlements we can’t afford. Even if we raise the debt ceiling, they’ve made it clear that our rating will be downgraded if we don’t sufficiently face our long-term debt crisis.

The President hopes voters will blame Republicans, but the facts reveal a different story. Ever since the mid-term election victories, Republicans have been clear about their mission to cut spending and the size of our exploding debt. They’ve evidenced that mission by presenting Rep. Paul Ryan’s scorable and transparent budget plan and, this month, passed their Cut, Cap and Balance plan that provided a debt ceiling increase, initial budget cuts, a spending cap and a balanced budget amendment that would need state approval. It was the President who said “No” to their transparent and open plan to put limits on both parties.

On the other hand, the Democrats in Congress haven’t presented or passed a budget in over 800 days. The President’s ridiculous, deficit-exploding budget was dead on arrival in the Senate, being defeated 97-0. This President and a Democratic-controlled Senate and House had already rejected bi-partisan healthcare reform in favor of passing the debt-busting Affordable Healthcare Act that Americans didn’t get to read until it was passed. This behind-the-door, non-transparent, partisan strategy has further polarized Washington. Trust is non-existent. As Reagan would say, “Trust but verify!” Unfortunately, that can’t happen in last-minute negotiations that aren’t in writing.

The President has attacked Republicans for not being able to say “Yes” to anything. May I suggest that it’s ONLY the Republicans who have seriously proposed and passed solutions and said “Yes” to real budgets that have been scored by the CBO and open to public scrutiny. It’s this President that has presented words, vague promises and a clear “No” to the Republican plan and budget.

Americans, you have a choice. Compromise may extend the debt ceiling, but it won’t address the debt. If one car is moving in the right lane and the other in the left, compromise is driving down the middle and getting clobbered by every car you meet. This is a choice between bigger government and dependent citizens or smaller government and empowered citizens. Here’s hoping America makes the right choice in 2012.